The Town Files

Yancey County, North Carolina

18,797 people. The median home is worth $243,100 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $58,709.

Towns in Yancey County

Towns in Yancey County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Burnsville1,614$243,500$50,99743.2

People and housing

Yancey CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$243,100$228,900
Median rent$882$969
Median household income$58,709$60,458
Median age49.241.1
Bachelor's degree or higher25.1%24.5%
Below the poverty line15.2%14.3%

Jobs and pay

4,648 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,951 a year.

Largest industries in Yancey CountyManufacturing1,226 jobs · $61,316Retail647 jobs · $33,450Health care & social assistan…439 jobs · $43,765Construction374 jobs · $54,200Hotels & restaurants354 jobs · $20,851Other services120 jobs · $48,451
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Yancey County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 589 storm events in Yancey County from 1996 to 2026, with 14 deaths.

Storm events in Yancey County by type since 1996Hail33Flood8Sleet7Drought35High Wind34Ice Storm10Heavy Snow101Flash Flood22Winter Storm19Winter Weather240
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Yancey County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
September 8, 2021HurricaneDR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred
August 2, 2020HurricaneEM-3534: Hurricane Isaias
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).